A Global History of Pepper: Wealth, Adventure and Colonization

Pepper may seem inconspicuous, but it is a must-have on every table. In the Middle Ages, it was the favorite of European dignitaries and a symbol of wealth and status. Black pepper is native to India, which is thousands of miles away from European ports, so it has never been easy to obtain. Merchants' relentless pursuit of sources of supply has become an important driving force in world history, contributing to the rise of global trade and redrawing the world's economic map. Focusing on the islands of the Indian Ocean, Marjorie Schaeffer vividly charts the story of pepper's introduction to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. China has long been a major consumer of pepper. Zheng He visited Pepper Port many times during his voyages to the West. The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama opened up a sea trade route from Europe to India in search of pungent spices. The King of Aceh held water feasts and elephant fighting competitions for European visitors, which were extremely luxurious. In order to control the pepper trade, two East India companies, the British and the Dutch, were established one after another and competed in almost every port in Asia. The United States, which joined the competition late, enriched its treasury with profits from the pepper trade. Around the little pepper, a complicated trade history unfolds.